The annual climate change conference will start just three days after the Paris Agreement came into force on Friday, signalling a new era in the fight against climate change. Amidst some self-congratulation, countries participating at the Marrakesh meeting are expected to start working on framing the rules and deciding on institutions that will govern the implementation of the Paris Agreement.

Accordingly, the Marrakesh conference will see the beginning of a new annual meeting, this one for the members of Paris Agreement. So far, 100 countries have ratified the Paris Agreement, thus officially becoming its members. Only they have deciding powers on framing of rules of the Paris Agreement.

However, in anticipation of all the other countries also joining in eventually, most of them within the next couple of months itself, it has already been agreed that final decisions with regard to rules for the Paris Agreement will not be taken until next year. So while discussions will begin, the decisions would be suspended until other countries join in and are able to participate.

At least two new institutions are supposed to be created as part of implementation of the Paris Agreement. A Technology Framework is to be built to ensure transfer of technology to the poor and developing countries, and a Paris Committee on Capacity Building is to be established to raise the capacities of vulnerable countries to fight and adapt to climate change.

India has stressed that the principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR&RC) — a principle that demands greater action from the developed countries — must continue to guide all the implementing arrangements for the Paris Agreement.

Participating countries are expecting to make some concrete progress on as yet unresolved issue of finance.

Rich and developed nations are obligated to provide finance to the developing nations to help them absorb the impacts of climate change. They have promised to mobilise USD 100 billion every year from 2020 and scale it up after 2025. Developing countries have been demanding a clear roadmap on how this money is being raised.

The Marrakesh meeting will also focus on developing a Loss and Damages mechanism through which the poor and most vulnerable countries, like small islands, are able to seek compensation for any damage they face due to climate change.

India and some other developing countries will also insist on action from the developed countries on their commitments under the Kyoto Protocol till 2020.